8514 (display standard)
Encyclopedia
IBM 8514 is an IBM graphics computer display standard
supporting a display resolution
of 1024×768 pixel
s with 256 colors at 43.5 Hz
(interlaced), or 640×480 at 60 Hz (non-interlaced). 8514 usually refers to the display controller
hardware (such as the 8514/A display adapter
.) However, IBM sold the companion CRT
monitor (for use with the 8514/A) which carries the same designation, 8514.
8514 used a standardised programming interface called the "Adapter Interface" or AI. This interface is also used by XGA, IBM Image Adapter/A, and clones of the 8514/A and XGA such as the ATI Technologies
Mach 32 and IIT AGX. The interface allows computer software to offload common 2D-drawing operations (line-draw, color-fill, BITBLT
) onto the 8514 hardware. This freed the host CPU
for other tasks, and greatly improved the speed of redrawing a graphics visual (such as a pie-chart or CAD-illustration).
computers in April 1987. It was an optional upgrade to the Micro Channel architecture based PS/2's Video Graphics Array
, and was delivered within three months of PS/2's introduction.
Although not the first PC video card
to support hardware acceleration
, IBM's 8514 is often credited as the first PC mass-market fixed-function accelerator. Up until the 8514's introduction, PC graphics acceleration was relegated to expensive workstation-class, graphics coprocessor
boards. Coprocessor-boards (such as the TARGA
Truevision series) were designed around special CPU or DSP chips, which in theory could execute a compiled program. At least one Truevision model used the Texas Instruments
TMS34010
.) Fixed-function accelerators, such as the 8514, sacrificed programmability for better cost/performance ratio.
8514 was later superseded by IBM XGA.
Computer display standard
Computer display standards are often a combination of aspect ratio, display resolution, color depth, and refresh rate.This article describes the different display standards for computer displays.-History:...
supporting a display resolution
Display resolution
The display resolution of a digital television or display device is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed. It can be an ambiguous term especially as the displayed resolution is controlled by all different factors in cathode ray tube , flat panel or projection...
of 1024×768 pixel
Pixel
In digital imaging, a pixel, or pel, is a single point in a raster image, or the smallest addressable screen element in a display device; it is the smallest unit of picture that can be represented or controlled....
s with 256 colors at 43.5 Hz
Hertz
The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications....
(interlaced), or 640×480 at 60 Hz (non-interlaced). 8514 usually refers to the display controller
Graphics processing unit
A graphics processing unit or GPU is a specialized circuit designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory in such a way so as to accelerate the building of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display...
hardware (such as the 8514/A display adapter
Video card
A video card, Graphics Card, or Graphics adapter is an expansion card which generates output images to a display. Most video cards offer various functions such as accelerated rendering of 3D scenes and 2D graphics, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 decoding, TV output, or the ability to connect multiple monitors...
.) However, IBM sold the companion CRT
Cathode ray tube
The cathode ray tube is a vacuum tube containing an electron gun and a fluorescent screen used to view images. It has a means to accelerate and deflect the electron beam onto the fluorescent screen to create the images. The image may represent electrical waveforms , pictures , radar targets and...
monitor (for use with the 8514/A) which carries the same designation, 8514.
8514 used a standardised programming interface called the "Adapter Interface" or AI. This interface is also used by XGA, IBM Image Adapter/A, and clones of the 8514/A and XGA such as the ATI Technologies
ATI Technologies
ATI Technologies Inc. was a semiconductor technology corporation based in Markham, Ontario, Canada, that specialized in the development of graphics processing units and chipsets. Founded in 1985 as Array Technologies Inc., the company was listed publicly in 1993 and was acquired by Advanced Micro...
Mach 32 and IIT AGX. The interface allows computer software to offload common 2D-drawing operations (line-draw, color-fill, BITBLT
Bit blit
Bit BLIT is a computer graphics operation in which several bitmaps are combined into one using a raster operator....
) onto the 8514 hardware. This freed the host CPU
Central processing unit
The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...
for other tasks, and greatly improved the speed of redrawing a graphics visual (such as a pie-chart or CAD-illustration).
History
8514 was introduced with the IBM Personal System/2IBM Personal System/2
The Personal System/2 or PS/2 was IBM's third generation of personal computers. The PS/2 line, released to the public in 1987, was created by IBM in an attempt to recapture control of the PC market by introducing an advanced proprietary architecture...
computers in April 1987. It was an optional upgrade to the Micro Channel architecture based PS/2's Video Graphics Array
Video Graphics Array
Video Graphics Array refers specifically to the display hardware first introduced with the IBM PS/2 line of computers in 1987, but through its widespread adoption has also come to mean either an analog computer display standard, the 15-pin D-subminiature VGA connector or the 640×480 resolution...
, and was delivered within three months of PS/2's introduction.
Although not the first PC video card
Video card
A video card, Graphics Card, or Graphics adapter is an expansion card which generates output images to a display. Most video cards offer various functions such as accelerated rendering of 3D scenes and 2D graphics, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 decoding, TV output, or the ability to connect multiple monitors...
to support hardware acceleration
Hardware acceleration
In computing, Hardware acceleration is the use of computer hardware to perform some function faster than is possible in software running on the general-purpose CPU...
, IBM's 8514 is often credited as the first PC mass-market fixed-function accelerator. Up until the 8514's introduction, PC graphics acceleration was relegated to expensive workstation-class, graphics coprocessor
Coprocessor
A coprocessor is a computer processor used to supplement the functions of the primary processor . Operations performed by the coprocessor may be floating point arithmetic, graphics, signal processing, string processing, or encryption. By offloading processor-intensive tasks from the main processor,...
boards. Coprocessor-boards (such as the TARGA
Targa
Targa is an old word for targe, shield. Targa or TARGA may also refer to:Car rallies*Targa Florio, Sicily, Italy*Targa Canada West, Canada*Targa New Zealand*Targa Newfoundland, Canada*Targa Tasmania, Australia*Targa West, Western Australia...
Truevision series) were designed around special CPU or DSP chips, which in theory could execute a compiled program. At least one Truevision model used the Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments Inc. , widely known as TI, is an American company based in Dallas, Texas, United States, which develops and commercializes semiconductor and computer technology...
TMS34010
TMS34010
The TMS34010 was the first programmable graphics processor integrated circuit . First silicon was working at Texas Instruments in Houston in December 1985, and first shipment was to IBM's workstation facility in Kingston, New York, in January 1986...
.) Fixed-function accelerators, such as the 8514, sacrificed programmability for better cost/performance ratio.
8514 was later superseded by IBM XGA.